Richard Madden: Being labelled ‘hunky thing’ can detract from work as an actor

Richard Madden: Being labelled ‘hunky thing’ can detract from work as an actor

The 32-year-old has attracted plaudits for his role as David Budd in the political thriller Bodyguard, but also attention for his looks.

Richard Madden (Ian West/PA)

Bodyguard star Richard Madden says being seen as “that hunky thing” can undermine his work as an actor.

The 32-year-old Scot has attracted plaudits for his role as David Budd, alongside Keeley Hawes, in the political thriller, but also attention for his looks and physique.

Madden, whose bare bottom became a talking point on the BBC One drama, told luxury fashion website Mr Porter that he has no “right” to get annoyed about the objectification of men because it has happened to women for so long.

“I don’t worry about it. I worry sometimes about it affecting my job,” he said.

Richard Madden as David Budd and Keeley Hawes as Julia Montague in Bodyguard (Des Willie/BBC)

“If people go ‘Oh, you know, he’s that hunky thing’, then it undermines that actually I’m an actor, and I’m trying really hard to be good at it.”

Speaking about the way women have been valued for their appearance, the ex-Game Of Thrones star said: “I don’t really have a right to be pissed off.”

But he added: “I’ve done loads of jobs where I’ve been asked, or told, I need to lose weight – or I need to be in the gym every day. And that sucks, because it actually gets in the way of the job, a bit. And also because it’s just unrealistic.